Congressional delegation joins in on Sea-3 propane controversy

NEWINGTON — Three of the four members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation are urging a federal group to look into the environmental impacts of a proposal to expand a propane storage facility.

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte sent a letter on July 21 to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, which asked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to asses the proposal of Newington based propane storage facility, Sea-3 Inc., to increase its storage space.

The congresswomen say the expansion will have detrimental effects on the more than 10,000 acre Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve due to the increase in propane-carrying rail traffic through the reserve.

The project to expand has already met the disproval of the city of Portsmouth, which is appealing the recent Newington Planning Board decision to approve Sea-3’s proposal to expand for site review.

Portsmouth is, like the congresswomen, concerned with the trains that ship propane to and from the facility.

Pan Am Railways, which ships the propane, will be upgrading 14 miles of train track from Newfields to the Newington facility if the project goes though, according to Cynthia Scarano, executive vice president Pan Am railways.

Propane traffic on the rail is expected to double.

Scarano said the tracks will be upgraded to Class 2 tracks, which allow freight trains to operate up to 25 mph, as opposed to Class 1 tracks which, only allow freight trains to travel 10 mph.

Portsmouth Mayor Robert Lister, in a letter sent to the Newington Planning Board in February, said “The City is primarily concerned about the public safety implications of increased rail traffic carrying hazardous materials close to neighborhoods and business areas.”

Concerns have been raised about the idling of train cars, the potential for a spill, and the general disturbances cause by more rail-traffic in downtown and residential areas.

A Foster’s Daily Democrat reporter, upon contacting Sea-3, was transferred to Edward Dupont, President of the Dupont Group, which is working with Sea-3 on the project.

Dupont said there has not been a recent accident on the portion of track to be upgraded and the Federal Railroad Administration has inspected the track four times for safety.

“Where it is right now is there are concerns that Portsmouth has,” said Dupont. “We understand those concerns.”

The letter sent on July 21 by the Congresswoman adds to the concerns by stating that 13 of the 14 miles of track to be upgraded run directly through the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

“The Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper has highlighted numerous environmental effects that expanded use of these rail lines would have on research facility work, oyster restoration efforts, aquaculture operations, lobsterman, crabbers, and recreational shell fishermen,” read the letter.

Scarano said that she had not heard about the letter sent by the congresswomen and did not know if the train tracks traveled through the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Cory Riley, Manager of the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, confirmed that the track travels through the reserve, but did not offer a comment about the congresswomen’s request for the NOAA to investigate.

Foster’s Daily Democrat reached out to Portsmouth and Newington officials, but could not make contact with anyone with extensive knowledge of the project after multiple phone calls.

Portsmouth has set up a website at www.cityofportsmouth.com/Sea-3.html#irt, which serves as a reservoir of documents about the proposed expansion.

There are 41 documents on that website including letters from residents, letters from Pan Am and Sea-3, as well as various correspondences to and from the city of Portsmouth.

Portsmouth’s appeal of the Newington Planning Board’s decision to approve the project will be heard at the Newington Planning Board’s August 25 meeting.

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